warnings: brief mention of parental loss, angst with comfort
summary: your birthday had always been a big deal to you, having parties as a child and inviting your whole class, to now when Harry did something for you every year since.
Birthdays had always been important to you, your parents meticulously planning something that you will remember for many years until you were ‘too old’ for kids parties and they would change it up for a fancy meal, or a party, and even a trip to Greece for your 18th birthday.
However, they had passed away in an unexpected car accident 6 years ago, leaving Harry, your childhood sweetheart to take it upon himself to continue the tradition of your birthday.
For those past 6 years, Harry had gone out of his way to make sure you did every you wanted on your birthday, saw everyone you wanted to, and got everything you wanted to.
This year it was your 29th birthday.
Harry wasn’t home.
I had woken up at 9am, reaching over to the other side of the bed and feeling the space where Harry lay every morning, empty and cold.
I sat up and glanced at my phone, seeing if Harry had sent me a message.
Nothing.
Reluctantly i got out of bed and looked around the apartment.
“Harry?”
No response.
It would be likely that Harry was doing something sidemen related, or big wedge related, considering he was very busy at the moment.
But the thought that he had forgotten my birthday briefly flashed in my mind before i pushed it away.
He would never. He never has before.
The day went by slowly, i padded around the house, washing up and cleaning.
I had messaged Harry a couple of times by noon, all receiving either no reply or a short reply so I left it for the rest of the day.
reader: where did you go this morning? 9:37am
reader: harry?? 10:12am
harry: busy filming. talk l8r. 10:49am
reader: what time will you be home? delivered 11:24am
Throughout the day i had received a couple of messages from friends and Harry’s family, which I thanked them for before switching my phone of and heading into central London.
The thought that Harry had forgotten my birthday was dawning on me so I took it upon myself to celebrate on my own and got on the tube with my headphones in. I got off and went into a small cafe. I ordered myself a raspberry smoothie and a small muffin and sat by the window.
I spent nearly 3 hours in that cafe with my own thoughts before heading home, wondering if Harry would be home.
Once I got home, it was nearing 6pm so I checked my home.
harry: going out with the boys, don’t stay up. sent 5:13pm
I didnt reply to the message.
I shut my phone off and put it in the living room.
A few tears ran down my numb cheeks as i went into the bathroom and wiped my makeup off. I washed my face, the soap and water blending in with the salty tears. Even after moisturising my face there were tears tracks leading down my face.
I got changed back into my pajamas and went into the kitchen. I got a pizza out of the freezer and placed it in the oven. The same sentence was looping around in my head.
He forgot my birthday.
My boyfriend forgot my birthday.
Harry Lewis forgot my birthday.
My Harry Lewis forgot my birthday.
The night blended into what felt like a few short minutes. Soon enough, i was laid in bed in silence, the tear tracks now flooding into the pillow. 11:42pm. 18 minutes left. Harry still wasnt home.
I laid faced away from the door when i heard the front door open 10 minutes later. I could hear Harry kicking his shoes off and placing his jacket on his sofa. The bathroom door closed and the shower ran. 11:59pm. My birthday was over and I had spent it alone.
The first birthday i spent alone in 29 years.
When Harry finally came into our bedroom, I felt him get onto the bed and lean over to press a kiss to my cheek. I moved away.
I saw Harry pull back confused.
“What’s wrong?” He asks worried.
I look at him with a look that screams ‘are you serious’
“What’s the date Harry” i ask him, my voice shaking.
Harry turns his phone on, “June 2nd. Why?”
I look at him with disbelief before getting out of the bed and grabbing my pillow and the blanket at the end of the bed.
“Woah woah?? What are you doing?” Harry shoots out of the bed to stop me.
“I’m sleeping on the sofa. What does it look like im doing.” My eyes had filled with tears and i was trying to blink them away.
“I’m so confused, what did i do? I’m sorry” harry says confused.
I walk out of our room and into the living room with him following behind me.
“It’s the 2nd of June Harry.” I stare at him
He thinks for a moment before a look of realisation dawns on his face.
“Yeah. It was my birthday.” The tears fall down my cheeks, resurfacing the salty tracks that had been wiped away mere minutes earlier.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I completely forgot. I’m so sorry.” Harry pulls me into his chest despite my reluctance. I cry into his chest.
“Why did you forget my birthday?” I ask him through the tears.
“I’m so sorry, I’ve just been so busy with… everything that i completely slipped my mind. I’m so sorry baby.” Harry placed his hands on my cheeks and wiped my tears with his thumbs.
“I’ll make it up to you. I wont work tomorrow. We will spend the whole day doing whatever you want. Whatever it takes to make it up to you. I’m so sorry.” Harry pressed kisses to my forehead before pulling me into his chest again and repeating ‘I’m sorry’ over and over.
“Okay” I agree and he takes the pillow and blanket from the sofa in one hand, and my hand in the other and brings me back into our bedroom, and guides me back to bed. We get into bed and he pulls me into his chest, smoothing my face with kisses.
“Im still mad at you” I mumble into his chest as i fall asleep
summary: you, liv and yas go to the sidemen charity match 2026 as ‘wags from work’
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“WHICH ONE IS HE?” Arthurs little sister asked me.
“Arthur is the one with the 7 on his back” I point him out on the bench “he hasn’t come on the pitch yet though.”
Just before the game, Arthur was warming up with his team on the field and I could see his eyes darting around the stands until they settled on our section when he blew a kiss up to me. I pretended to catch it and put it in my pocket and sent him a big thumbs up before he turned back to his team.
“We need some photos of our shirts” Yas says nudging me slightly, pulling me from my trance of watching my boyfriend laughing with his friends and kicking a ball around. The three of us stood facing the pitch while Flo took photos of our shirts from behind. We also took a few individual photos.
Throughout the match, I cheered for Arthur, following the number 7 around the pitch and screaming loud enough that i wouldnt be surprised if he heard from all the way down on the pitch.
Despite sidemen fc losing, I still cheered for him. The team came up the stands in front of our seats to collect their medals. I managed to squeeze my way down to where they were all heading to and I greeted Alfie, who was in front of Arthur, and when my boyfriend got his medal and walked along to where i was stood.
He gestured for a kiss so leant down to press a small kiss to his lips, considering there was 90,000 people around, including his family.
“Hi” i said quietly “you played so good.” I told him truthfully.
“You think so? I didnt score any goals for you though.” He doubts himself making me smile sadly.
“100% sure. You had 3 assists. You gave Vikk his goal. You did so good baby.” I place a hand on his cheek and reassure him. He soon has to head back down to the pitch so he gives me one last kiss before following his teammates. I go back over to where I was sat and Liv and Yas are aww’ing at me.
“I cant get over the fact Arthur can act like a normal human around you” Liv says making me laugh.
“Trust me he isnt normal, i’d honestly rival him with Bach on natural weirdness” I joke “I’ve never met a person with a worse screen time than him”
At the end of the match, when fans were clearing out of the stadium, we were allowed down onto the pitch so I headed down with Arthurs 2 sisters and his dad. Once we got to the entrance to the pitch, we saw Arthur taking photos with George, Bach and Chris so once they finished, Arthur turned around to see us and his sisters rushed over to him so he knelt down and hugged them.
Arthur took a few photos with the 3 of them before they had to leave to go to their hotel so I went over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and lifted me slightly off the floor and pressed kisses into my neck.
“I’m so proud of you” I tell him with my head in his neck. He puts my feet back on the floor and I pull my head back to look at him, my arms still around his neck. “You look so handsome.”
He blushes and ducks his head making me laugh “you look gorgeous. Especially with my name on your back.”
We soon went over to the rest of our group who had all collectively decided to head back to George, Chris and Arthur Hills house to order some food and hang out.
“You want to come over?” George asks, his arm around Yas’ shoulders.
I look at Arthur before turning back to him “yeah why not”